Oladunni Adepoju, headmistress of Sabol International School for the Physically Challenged, Ibadan, has lamented the reduction in donations and aid from Nigerians due to the present economic hardship.

Ms Adepoju said in Ibadan on Friday that schools for physically challenged children presently need government intervention.

“In times past, people came to celebrate their birthdays with special needs children and donate handsomely towards their care, but they hardly do so now.

“But it’s been long ago. The economy is harsh, so society should show children love as one of the ways to cater to them.

“If they really know that they exist, that is, they will care for them. Maybe they don’t have them in their family, they don’t have them in their surroundings.

“If they have them around and they know that they are still citizens of Nigeria, I think they will come to their aid,” the headmistress said.

She lamented the hike in the price of physiotherapy sessions for children with special needs at the Oyo State hospitals and called on the government to intervene.

“We usually take them for physiotherapy. They have increased the renewal of each physiotherapy session.

“This is a service that is needed all year round for the special children, and it will continue until God intervenes,” Ms Adepoju said.

According to her, special needs children continue to have physiotherapy to aid their comfort and reduce stiffness in their muscles and bones.

The headmistress also commended the Oyo State government for its recent recruitment exercise, which gave employment opportunities to many physically challenged persons.

“Oyo State employed most of the physically challenged, the special people, and that deserves commendation,” she said.

Ms Adepoju called for continuous support from philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians to support the well-being and ease the burden on physically challenged persons.

(NAN)